This is the story of our two year preparation to become fulltime RV'ers, and our big, new adventure that began on May 31, 2015. It's just the two of us, and the "fluffy dog", off to see this beautiful country with only the seasons as our guide. We're really doing it!

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Wrapping Up Our Time in New England

October 21-24, 2016Willington, ConnecticutUnderstandably Bill is happy to be home and just chill. Friday afternoon we take a drive to see how much the foliage has changed in the week he's been gone. Many trees have lost nearly all their leaves. The leaf-covered floor makes a subtle, but noticeable difference in the forest. We check out additions to the scarecrow contest in Stafford Springs.

Scarecrow Surgeon complete with spare parts

The local health club's entry

Minion with seasonal nails

Saturday we finally get to see our high school friend, Cindy, and meet her husband Charlie. We drive to their lovely home in Mansfield - two acres in the White Pine forest. Absolutely beautiful.I haven't seen Cindy since 1975 when we were in college, and she still remembers the night of Whiskey Sours. Apparently she hasn't had bourbon since - good times! She and Bill dated in high school and last saw each other in 1989. We spend hours getting caught up on the decades in between.

Bill and Cindy looking at their '74 yearbook

We continue to enjoy these opportunities to re-connect with old friends across the country. Charlie is a great guy, and it's a wonderful treat to hang out with both of them over a tasty home-cooked meal. Tessa is a perfect house guest, getting lots and lots of pets and belly-rubs. Wish I'd gotten a picture of she and Charlie cuddling on the couch!!No change in the standard Sunday routine. Except my quarterback is injured, we lose, moving on.We didn't make it to Maine, but we're close enough to Rhode Island to see another New England state while we're here.I really want to see Providence, but have been warned by a couple people that even with a recent re-gentrification, the city is "sad". The Monday morning drive is beautiful, but our entry to Providence proves the warnings accurate. We continue on.Jo Ann has also recommended a visit to Newport, Rhode Island. Let's go there!We follow a slow trolley through the incredible mansions, peaking through ornate gates and around groomed hedges as we drive. They all look like something from a movie - hard to believe people really live in these grand homes. The Atlantic Ocean is so much prettier here than our experience in Boston where the surf was black. This section of coastline is accented with wonderful huge rocks and white-sand beaches. The weather is perfect.

I try, and fail, to get a video of Tessa's beach zoomies - she's too fast!! Wherever we eventually land when we come off the road there will have to be a beach somewhere close by.The newer mansions along the shore are just as spectacular as their inland neighbors.

Another wonderful recommendation - thanks again Jo Ann!We return north over the beautiful Claiborne Pell Bridge. A different route home, pretty forests, quaint towns, so enjoyable.

Like Idaho and Illinois, Rhode Island now goes on the list of states we've visited, but doesn't get added to the number of states we've stayed in as full-timers, still at 20. We've really enjoyed the beauty of New England in the Fall, seeing the colors change from subtle to extreme. The people are very friendly, the towns are lovely with their vintage homes and classic buildings, colonial history is everywhere, the roads are mostly easy to drive, and the campgrounds are comfortable - although 50 amp is the rare exception. There's a definite obsession with pizza and Dunkin' Donuts, and dairy bars are a brilliant idea. The tree-lined highways and Interstates make each state "feel" un-populated. It is a must-do for every traveler!Tuesday we're heading south, back into Pennsylvania.

There were several of these "Cousin It" trees in Newport - anyone know what they are?

18 comments:

So good that Bill is back:) Sounds like you visit to New England was wonderful and full of new adventures. The ocean is beautiful in RI. Great photos of the sparkling sun on the blue water. How fun to catch up with another classmate after so many years:) Safe travels to PA. Do watch for the stink bugs!!

We got below the snow storm just in time! Loved that ocean in RI - someday we want to watch the sun rise. So far we're not getting the bugs here. I made sure our site wasn't in the trees so that might help a little. Next stop Cherry Hill so we'll hope not to find them there!

We had seafood, but not lobster this time - it was fresh and tasty! Looks like around Nov 5-12 we'll be moving into Virginia. Right now we're coming down 95 to Richmond, then cutting west to Staunton. Unless you tell me to do something better :-))))

So glad you had such a great time in New England. I lived in Boston for 10 years but haven't been back to New England in about 20 years. It's definitely time! It helps to know that you found it so manageable. The scarecrows are a riot...I've been wanting a minion ever since seeing Despicable Me. :-))

Hard to imagine you in the chaos of a big city :-) Obviously not a lot of boondocking opportunities, but definitely manageable to get around even smaller, rural roads. I realized that large trucks have to make deliveries using those roads, so it was likely I could navigate them as well. And this time of year......well, you know.